Boiler-flue cleaner.



R. 0. HODGB.

BOILER FLUE CLEANER.

APPLIOATIONHLED rBB.2e,19o9.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. 0. HUDGE. BOILBR PLUS CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.26,1909.

Patented Got. 11, 1910.

s Simms-snub.

WMM/maw R. 0. HODGE.

BOILER FLUB CLEANER.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. ge, 190s.

972,374. Patenea'ocn. 1,1, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

in the breeching one above the other and journaled at their opposite ends in bearings arranged on brackets J, J1" posite side wallsof the brecliing,"upper and lower screw nuts or internally threaded eyes a', 'il arranged on the lower sectionv of the iip' if right part of the manifold and receivine the threaded shafts, a main gear wheel' K journailed on one'of the brackets, preferably the l left one J, as shown, and meshing with two pinioiis lc" on the adjacent ends of tlieiscrew shafts, and a manually operated longitudinal actuating shaft L journaled on lthe bracket J'and projecting' through the 'front' wall of the 'breeching and provided 'within'. the. 'breeehing with a bevel pinion' m which meshes with a bevel gear, rim m1 on the ni'aiii'gear wheel K and -provided in front- .of the breeching with a handle or crank m2 for `turning tlie actuating shaft and the'pai'ts operatively connected therewith. `Upon turning the crank by hand yin one direction or'the other thev screw shafts are simultaneously, wlierebyt'he screw nuts z', z"

turned in whiclitliese shaftsw'orkL and cause the manifold to move transversely in `the breechingand bring the nozzles thereof succes# vsively into line 'or' register withl the several 'main and auxiliary lues, thereby cleaning the latterby the stream directed into the saine by the nozzles. The latter may by this means be carried back Ania-in and auxiliary flues oftenl as' neces- "sarytokeep the sanieclean. This means of and yforth across the shifting the nozzles Arenders 'it' impossible for the' operator to moire the nozzles very rapidly, thereby insuring the retention of the nozzles opposite each group of Haes a sulcient length of'tiine to enable the steam to properly clean the tubes or tlueswhich would not bel the case if itwere :possible 4to move the nozzle quickly pastthe iiues,inas niuch as such a quick movement of the nozzles would not'direct the steam' into the ,tluesf a sutlicient length of time to properly clean the same.

Various means may be provided for slipplying' the 'inai'iitolds with steam, those shown in Figs. l-4 being constructed as follows -N represents a stationary Asteam i-oundi'ng'tlie upper section, -*Asshown in esy Fig. 4., these sections are capable of swinging vertically Vand transversely in the breaching by means ot an kupper swivel coninounted on 'op.

4stutlingbox Q applie nection between the upper telescopio pipe section vand the steam supply pipe and a lower swivel `i connection between the lower telescopic pipe section and the lower inanifold. The upper swivel connection comprises Ya longitudinally horizontal nipple P connected at its rear end with the upper end of the upper telescopic pipe bg an elbow p while its front end is provide with anextei-nal flange p1 bearingagainst the rear end .of the steam supply pipe, Aa bearing Sleeve g surrounding the nipple and bearing at its4 frontend against tlierear of the flange' p1, a coupling sleeve jRsurrounding the oppos- 4ingi ends of the steam supply pipe and the bearingsleeve and connected at opposite.

screw joints, 'and aends with. the saine by to the innerorrear end of the bearingvsleeve around the nipple 1.. .'llie lower swivel :connection comprises .a forwardly projecting socket S formed on the lower section of the vertical part of the manifoldand provided with a forwardly facing shoulder s, a horizontal longitudinal I swiveii nipple T arranged in. said socket and provided at its rear end withan external `annular.V flange t which bearsv with its l' rear side against the Ashoulder s while its p front end is connected by'an' elbow ,t1 with the lower ven d of the intermediate pipesection 01,.:1.; bearing sleeve U surrounding ,the lower nip le and cngagin -at its rear end .witlithe iront side ofthe owernipple jllange andalso connected with-theibore of said socket by a screw joint, and a, stuffing boxu` arranged at thefiont endoflthe loner bearing sleeve around the lowernipple. Uaon moving the manifold .transyersely l ackV andiforth in the v-breeching-for causing the nozzle thereof to."i`deliver the steam intol different groups` ofthe ,flues or section turns on the lower manifold. and the two telescopic pipe sections sliderelatively to each other iu adaptin the positionand A tubesthe upper. telescopic pipe section turns f `on the s teaiii pipe, the lower telescopliepipe lengtli'of the Ainterme iate pi e :to .the-- changing position of the manifol sandstill maintaining a steam, tight connection between the supply pipe andthe'manifolds.

instead of employing a vtelescopic interinediatehpipe ,forconn'ecting tliesteam 'sup- ,ply pipeavith theinanifold, asV shown .in ligs.,l4, thesanie etfectinay. be obtained by means of a swivel connection betweenthe upper and lower intermediate 'pipe sections V, Vl which isi s'liow'nfi-n Firsand (ii-and constructed as follows 'z-W represents an elbow connectedat. its lower end. with the lower intermediate pipe section and vprovided at ,its upper ,endz with a vertical shoulder w.;- w. indicatesia horizontal longitudi;

nalgiiitermediaite nipple provided at one 'end with -an lexternal ijan'nnlar 'l flange` :r1 -ivliich.

bears igain` the ishoulderfswland vv'connected 'i ,1 YIM. r' "i ate pipe section V.

'sleeve surrounding the intermediate nipple at its opposite end by means of an elbow y with the lower end' of the upper intermediz represents a bearing and bearing at one end against the outer side of 'the flange w1 and connected by a.

. manifold moves transversely in the breeching the upper and lower intermediate pipe4 sections turn relatively to each other by means of the intermediate swivel joint and also turnupon the steam supply pipe and lower'part of the manifold in ada ting themselves to the position of the manifold.

In applying my improved tube cleaner which does not employ the auxiliary or ver-A tical tube for producing a forced draft, the

upper horizontal section of the manifold and its nozzles may be omitted and the any suitable means. l

It will be noted that in my improved tube cleaner the screw shafts not only propel the upper end of the vertical section closed by.

`manifold transversely in the breeching but also operate as a support and guide for the manifold.

When a boiler is comparatively wide and has more than one fire tube a my improved cleaner may be constructed in sections each of which is similar to that shown in Fig. .1 -:t and adapted to clean those return tubes or flues corresponding to one of the lire tubes.

As shown 1n Fig. 7, the boiler is provided with two fire tubes al, al and two sections of my improved ,cleaner are employed side by side for cleaning the same. By this V4arrangement one section of the boiler tubes may be cleaned while the other section remains in full operation, thereby avoiding undue lowering of the steam pressure while cleaning the tubes.

I claim as my invention:

1. lA boiler tube cleaner comprising a. manifold having a plurality of'outlets, and means for moving said manifold horizontally rectilineally past `the ends ofthe boiler tubes.

2. A boiler tube cleaner comprising a manifold having a vertical portion provided with outlets adapted to be arranged opposite the ends of horizontal boiler tubesand a horizontal portion provided with outlets adapted to be arranged'oppositethe ends 'of vertical tubes, and' means for moving said manifold transversely rectilineally relatively to said tubes.

3. boiler' tube cleaner comprising a manifold having' a vertical portion provided with outlets adapte-d to be arranged opposite the ends of horizontal boiler tubes and a horizontal portion pmvidedwvith outlets fdelivery device adapted to move adapted to be arranged opposite the ends with outlets adapted to be arranged oppo-` site the ends of horizontal boiler tubes 'and y a horizontal portion provided with outlets adapted to be arranged'opposite the ends-of vertical tubes, means for moving said manifold.transversely rectilineally relatively to said tubes, a stationary steam supply pipe,

and an articulated conduit connecting said supply pipe and manifold. l

5. A boiler tube cleaner having a steam deliver device adapted to move past the ends o the boiler tubes and provided with a screw nut, and a screw for shifting said delivery device engaging with said nut.

6. A boiler tube cleaner having a steam vast the ends of the boiler tubes and provided with a pair of screw nuts, and a pair of. parallel screws for shifting said manifold engaging 'withl said nuts.

7. A boiler tube cleaner having a steam delivery device adapted to move' astthe ends of the boiler tubes and provi ed with screw nut, a screw for shifting said delivery device engaging with said nut, and a manu-` nio with said nuts, pinions arranged on said screws, a main gear wheel meshing pinions, a crank shaft,` and a wheel arranged on the crankshaft and meshing with a bevel wheel.

9. A boiler tube cleaner comprising a manifold movable past the ends of the boiler tubes and having a plurality of outlets, a stationary steam supply ipe, and means for conducting the steam rom said supply pipe `to said manifold comprising two pipe sections which have their opposing ends connected with each other whiletheir extremities are pivotally connected with said steam supply pipe and said manifold, respectively.

10. A boiler tube cleaner comprising a manifold movable past the ends ofthe boiler tubes and having a plurality of outlets,l a stationary steam supply pipe, and means for conducting the steam from said supply pipe 4to said manifold comprising two pipe scctions which have their opposing ends connected with each othr while their extremities are pivotally connected with said steam supply pipe and said manifold, each of said gear rim lon said gearwith said/ bevel gear- 4 tions and having an external flange bearing `pivotal connections comprising a nipple con- 'flange and connected with the member with of outlets adapted to register with the horinected with `one of the respective pipe secagainst the member with which said section 1s coupled, a bearing sleeve surround mg the nippleand engaging the back of sald which the respective pipe section is coupled, and al stuflin'gvbox arranged on thc bearing sleeve'around the nipple.

1]. A boilertube cleaner comprising a manifold movable past the ends of the boiler tubes and having avplurality of outlets, a stationary-steam supply pipe, and means for conducting the steam from said supply pipe i to said 'manifold comprising two pipe sec- E tions which have their opposing ends slid* able one withinthe other, while their tremities are pivotally connected with said steam supply pipe and said manifold.

1Q. The combination with a steam boiler having a plurality of. horizontal tubes, a i manifold.movable horizontally reetilin viall \y l past the ends of said tubes and provided l with a plurality of outlets adapted to register with successive groups of said tubes, and means for supplying steam to said manifold.

13, The combination with av-steam boiler having a plurality of horizontal tubes, a plurality of vertical tubes, a breeching connecting the adjacent ondsof said horizontal and vertical tubes, a mani-fold movable horizontally in said' brera-,hing and provided with an upright portion having a plurality zontal tubes and a horizontal portion pro vided with a plurality of outlets adapted to for supplying steam to 4said manifold.

14:. The combination with a steam boiler having a plurality of horizontal tubes, a manifold movable horizontally past the ends of said tubes and provided with a plurality of outlets adapted to register with successive groups of said tubes, a horizontal screw shaft working in a screw nut arranged on saidmanifold, and means for turning said shaft and means for supplying steam to said manifold.

l5. The combination with a steam boiler having a plurality of horizontal tubes, a manifold movable horizontally past the ends of said tubes and provided with a plurality of outlets. adapted to register with successive groups of said tubes, a pair of horizontal screw shafts working in screw nuts arranged on said manifold, means for turning said shafts in unison, and means for supplying steam to said manifold.

1G. T he combination with a steam boiler having a plurality of horizontal tubes, a

manifold movable horizontally past the ends of said tubes and provided with a plurality of outlets adapted to register with successive groups of said tubes, a pair of horizontal -screw shaftsk working in screw nuts on said manifold, pinions arranged on said shafts,

rnary, 1902).

ROBERT O. lIDtfli.' lVitnesses Trino. L. Pori, ANNA Hniois. 

